The Season That Was
* I’ll remember this NBA season as the one in which Oklahoma City turned its attention from the New Orleans Hornets to the Seattle SuperSonics.
* I’ll remember it as the season that Oklahoma City’s first and favorite NBA son, Chris Paul, established himself as the game’s best point guard.
* I’ll remember it as the one Boston used to make a worst-to-first turnaround, assembling a trio of stars before riding Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to the franchise’s first championship in 22 years.
* I’ll remember how the Celtics embarrassed the Lakers in the NBA Finals, turning a historic rivalry into a humiliating rout.
* I’ll remember the final series being much worse than the 4-2 result that will go down in the history books.
* I’ll remember this NBA season as the year Garnett finally validated his career, forever silencing his critics by capturing his first, much-deserved title.
* I’ll remember Garnett’s emotions immediately following the game. The way he leaned back, reached down in his belly and jubilantly bellowed “ANYTHING’S POSSIIIIIIIBLE” in his postgame interview. I’ll remember thinking Garnett is a shinning example of hard work paying off.
* I’ll remember watching a blissful Garnett suddenly and perhaps subconsciously tell ESPN’s Michele Tafoya how great she looked on the championship-clinching night. I’ll remember thinking a live television audience was about two seconds from Joe Namath-Suzy Kolber Part II.
* I’ll remember this season as the year Paul Pierce punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame.
* I’ll remember it as the year Kobe Bryant answered his critics by becoming a better team player, leader and teammate.
* I’ll remember it as the year Bryant was criticized even more for doing all of the above.
* I’ll remember this season as the first in which Bryant took home the regular season MVP award and the second in which he was on the wrong end of the win-or-go-home slogan that embodies the NBA Finals.
* I’ll remember it as the year that brought Boston coach Doc Rivers vindication after nearly the entire NBA world called for his head the previous year. (I’ll be surprised if the always classy Rivers ever brings up that fact.)
* I’ll remember how Rivers thoroughly out-coached Phil Jackson.
* I’ll remember thinking during Game 6 what in the world Jackson possibly could say to his team at halftime with the Lakers down 23. I’ll always remember that whatever it was didn’t work.
* I’ll remember how the Celtics provided the latest example that defense wins championships. While run-and-gun is fun, I’ll remember hoping Golden State, Utah, Seattle, Memphis, Phoenix, Denver, the Lakers and my Washington Wizards all took notes during the championship series.
* I’ll remember 48 wins not being enough to make the playoffs out West.
* I’ll remember that in spite of all the Western Conference’s accolades, the East captured its third title in five years, and by three different teams.
* I’ll remember it as the year Shaq was traded back to the West.
* I’ll remember the city of New Orleans proving the basketball world wrong.
* I’ll remember it as the year Kevin Durant took home Rookie of the Year honors, the start of what’s sure to be a long and illustrious career.
* I’ll remember Tim Donaghy.
* I’ll remember the Celtics’ faithful booing NBA Commissioner David Stern after Game 6.
* I’ll remember Houston peeling off 22 straight victories from late January to mid March. I’ll remember being in the city of Houston when the streak ended, watching it all unfold at a bar with family, friends and a captivated turned devastated city.
* I’ll remember the Knicks being awful. I’ll remember thinking they could make the playoffs after acquiring Zach Randolph.
* I’ll remember the Miami Heat coming as close as possible to tanking a season.
* Above all, I’ll remember missing the NBA in OKC.
-DM-
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Comments
You tell em Pat!!
But once you’ve said your fill, get a life and stop wallowing in denial.
There are no battles to be won here. Perhaps you should have done more work locally to save the Sonics. Clever rants on Oklahoma websites don’t seem to do much good for your cause. “Viral” media campaigns aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Seattle likes to reveal their email evidence to the media. The Clan of Bennett chose to save their evidence until the trial. A lesson to be learned? Save your bullets for the war!
Silly Seattle
*BANG*
*i’ll remember people in seattle thinking everyone was concerned with what they thought…
but seriously, DM, nice job. that was really well-done. i liked the literary device, clever.
Of course you’ll remember our city, Joey…….because that’s where the team formerly known as the Sonics will be playing.
Think about this:
Mariners owners guarenteed to pay over runs (and did) + $100 million cash) for the building of Safeco Field. In addition team owners will share 50% of any PROFIT from sale of the Mariners when the team is sold.. Based on todays value, the government / stadium district will receive over $200 million from that sale.
Qwest Field , home of the Seahawks was also 30% funded by the team owner.
The OKC ownership Sonics group commited NOTHING, not a dime. They did not do one thing that had resulted in the sucessfull construction of two new and nice stadiums in Seattle. Why wouldn’t a smart guy like Bennett follow the sucessful plans of the Hawks and Mariners? Because he had no interest in sucess in Seattle. IF you don’t think the NBA won’t do the same thing to OKC in a heartbeat you are in denial. That building you have down there will NOT be adequate and a new one will be required in a few short years.
The other thing I can’t figure out is that Seattle will be the 5th of the top 25 TV markets in the U.S. without NBA hoops. Stern thinks it is OK to trade OKC , Memphis (oops, they are croaking), Sacremento for Seattle, San Diego, Kansas City, St. Louis, Pittsburg and so on.
Using tax dollars earmarked for economic and job development programs for an NBA franshise is kinda sad. Another NBA team will move to Seattle within three years. But within five years the people of OKC will have their noses rubbed in some $700 million building scheme and if they dont cough up the money Clay will sell the team to some group from San Diego, or Albequerque or St. Luis. Sacremento is making those threats right now. Just be ready, if you don’t think it will happen to you you are in dreamland.
By the way, help me out. I really make a very good income. More than double the OKC median income, and I cannot afford to buy NBA tickets on a regualar basis. The good seats (not courtside) sell for $160 per here. It is very difficult to find any decent seats for any game for much less that $60 and most are $75 on up. How can so many people in Oklahoma afford that? Really, I am curious.
Good luck. enjoy the honeymoon.
(Bombe70, if you make more than double the OKC median income and still can’t afford decent seats perhaps you should take a look at what your other expenses are. I’m no financial consultant. Just saying. -DM-)
man that was a LONG post that i don’t care about and didn’t read. i’m so glad this blog is back. seattle, tell me why OKC sucks now, it’s been a while…
hello fellas! long time no see. it would appear bennet is winning so far. not so fast. judge pechman is just covering her ass for the inevitable appeal. federal judges dont like thier rulings overturned.
“I’ll remember this NBA season as the one in which Oklahoma City turned its attention from the New Orleans Hornets to the Seattle SuperSonics”
Wow, you guys are vultures. Not to mention shameless.
I will sadly remember the loss of the green and gold.
I will remember my loss of respect for the citizens of Seattle that belittled my hometown with their insults instead of looking at their local government.
I will remember actually being excited with college hoops, just to see who my home team might draft.
I will remember the NBA finding a home in OKC.
I’ll remember Clay Bennett lying under oath about doing his “best” to keep the Sonics in Seattle.
I’ll remember how David Stern and the NBA Board of Governors ignored unbiased reports and made up their own to justify moving a team with a 41-year history in a successful and large market to a backwater.
Above all, I’ll remember the SEATTLE Supersonics remaining in Seattle.